Thank God for Bugs?

-
I recently read the book The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.  It is the story of Corrie’s family, Christians living in the Netherlands during World War II, who risked their lives by hiding Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust.  Eventually, Corrie and much of her family were caught and taken to Nazi work camps themselves.  One story that stood out to me was that of Corrie and her sister, Betsy, still striving to serve and thank God in the midst of their suffering.  They had been moved to a new camp and sent to live in a filthy, overcrowded barrack with many other women.  As Corrie started to complain about the awful surroundings, Betsy quoted 1 Thesselonians 5:16 – 18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Corrie scoffed that they didn’t have much to be thankful for, but Betsy started naming things they could thank God for, starting with the fact that the sisters had been kept together.  Corrie agreed that this was, in fact, a blessing.  Then Betsy thanked God for the visible fleas on the mats they had been given to sleep on.  At this Corrie became incredulous, but Betsy insisted that it might be a blessing in disguise.  Soon, Betsy and Corrie started leading a Bible study with the other women in their barrack using a Bible they had smuggled in.  They never knew why the guards allowed it, but they kept sharing the hope of God’s Word with their fellow prisoners.  It wasn’t until much later that Corrie realized the reason the guards never entered their barrack was that they didn’t want to catch the fleas themselves.  Her sister was right; the fleas were indeed something to be thankful for.
Being thankful when we’re going through struggles isn’t easy, but when we’re in the midst of a situation where the only thing we can control is our attitude, I’d much rather focus on the blessings in my life and the lesson the Lord might be trying to teach me through the situation.  We tend to thank God for the obvious blessings (like Corrie and her sister being kept together) but to thank God for the struggle itself, or circumstances of it (like fleas on your bedding) is a whole different story.  I often find myself relating much more to Corrie in the story above than her sister.  It’s easy to thank God for things like my family, home, and freedom in this country.  But what about the harder things that I don’t normally consider a blessing?  I don’t often find myself thankful for my singleness, but it has given me countless opportunities, like serving with the youth group at my church, going on a mission trip to Uganda, and most recently, changing careers, that may or may not have happened if I had the responsibility of a husband and children to consider.  Even now, while I wait for my funding to increase to a point that I can start my position with FCA, it’s much easier to stress about finances than consider the blessings of getting to know more people at church, being able to spend more time with my family, and having more time to spend with the Lord.  I may not understand God’s purposes in these seasons of waiting, but, I can certainly control my attitude and be thankful during this time.  And, as the popular John Waller song says, “I will serve Him while I’m waiting”.  
At the end of the day, we who have called on the Name of Jesus as our Savior are among the most blessed, because we have a certainty of eternity in Heaven.  That God would even offer us this means of a relationship with His Holy Self is more than we can comprehend.  In this season of waiting, I am finding more and more reasons to fall in love with my Savior and that, in and of itself, is proof of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.”  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What's it like to work with Loudoun students?

-
Over the past two-ish years since I started this FCA journey, I’ve had the opportunity to meet FCA staff from all over the United States and the world.   It’s always interesting to talk to people who are doing ministry in different places.   There are times when it’s helpful because you learn that many people face similar challenges to do ministry in their places.   But there have also been times when I realize how different Loudoun County is from other parts of the US (and even other parts of Virginia!).   Virginia might be considered a southern state in the general sense, and parts of Virginia definitely fit into “Bible-belt” culture, but Loudoun County certainly does not.   Compared to other counties in the southern part of the state, Loudoun is far more diverse, affluent, and highly educated.   It is not the norm to call oneself a Christian here.   Our schools have a wide variety of cultures and religions represented, and although that can create some challenges for ministry, it’
Read more

Step by Step

-
Image
Tomorrow morning I leave for my first FCA camp of the summer, Virginia Leadership Camp.   My role at this camp and our upcoming multi-sport camp at the University of Richmond is Huddle Leader Coordinator.   I love this role because it means I get to the camp early and train and equip the college athletes who will then lead the middle and high school students attending the camp.   If I’m honest, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent more mental energy stressing about filling these Huddle Leader roles than I have spent praying about it, forgetting that the battle is not mine, but God's (2 chronicles  20:12 ). What if, every time I start to feel my anxiety elevate, I pause and praise God in the midst of the battle? What kind of great blessing would I see then, both for our camp in and in my own life?   I believe the enemy knows that students’ and coaches’ lives are changed at camp and he will do whatever he can to discourage us before we even get there.   I need to remind myself
Read more

The Idolatry of Safety

-
My favorite scene in C.S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is when the children are learning about Aslan, the Christ figure in the books, for the first time.  In the scene, Susan, Lucy, and their brothers are talking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who inform them that Aslan is likely not exactly what they expect: “Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"... "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” He’s not safe.  But He’s the King.  How often do I live in a way that equates safety with God’s goodness?  I mean, this is crazy thinking, right?  But don’t we all feel this way sometimes?  Even though the Bible clearly says that following Jesus means taking up your cross (which doesn’t sound very safe to me)
Read more